Type-writing machine.



APPLICATION IILED JULY 22,1909.

R. w. UHLIG. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

' WwNEssEs Patented July 26, 1910.

' does not need to be fitted at to the platen.

RICHARD W. UHLIG,

e RUTHERFQRD, NEW TYPEWRITEE COMI'ANY, 9F NEW YORK, N. Y2,

messy, ASSIGNOR A CORPORATION or T0 'oniennwoon new Janene".

rrrn-wmrins ach ne.

spams of Letters Patent. Application-filed July 22, 1909.

Patented July so. late. Serial No. 508,902.

To all whom itmay concern:

Ileitlmown that I,

Rutherford, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Ty e- Writing Machines, 0 which the following is'a. specification.

This invention relates to the line-spacing mechanism of typewriting machines, and particularly to means for releasably clutching the line-space wheel to the platen.

The principal object of the invention is-to provide a simple, inexpensive, compact de- 1 vice for this purpose, readily applicable to existing machines.

According to the present" invention, the main clutch nieniber consists of a dished spring-plate. preferably having three radial arms, the )late connected to the platen and constructs to be buckled to cause said arms to spread out. or lengthen to bite an annular ange which is )rovided on the line-space wheel, thereby etlectu'ally locking the latter The buckling of the clutch plate is effected by a lever ihounted upon the platen axle and operated by a finger-piece, which is preferably mounted on the end of said axle outside of the finger wheel which usually turns the platen. The lever, in buckling said plate, moves to a dead center position, and is there held by the reaction of the platethereon.

The parts are cheaplymade and assembled, especially the buckling plate, which its clutching points, and which when buckled will expand and lit itself at such points to the flange'in the line-space wheel, so thata rigid connection is efiected between the latter and the platen.

In the accompanying drawingsfili igure- 1 platen mechanism of an is a plan of the Underwood front strike writing machine, with the present improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 a sectional elevation of the clutch devices. Fig. 3 is a diagram to illustrate the manner of supporting a sliding arm which is operated by a .finger piecc to turn the clutching lever. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation showing the linespace wheel clutched to the platen axle. Fig. 5 is a part-sectional ele 'ation showing the line-space wheel released from the platen axle. Fig. (3 is an elcvationof the buckling v RICHARD W. Urinrqa cit1zen of the United States, residing in clutch nlate. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of thecluichreleasing finger-piece. lflig. 8 is a perspective view of the platen-rotating finger-wheel. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the clutching lever and its connections. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the line-space \vheel drum and the buckling clutch plate contained therein.

The usual cylindrical platen 1 is fixed upon anaxlc 2; which is journaled in a platen frame whose ends are seen at 3, 4:; finger wheels 5, (i being secured upon the ends of the axle which project from the platen frame, for rotating the platen. The line-space .inovenieni'. of the p aten arc efl'ected by a. lever 7, slide 8, pawl 9 and linespace wheel 10, the latter loosely mounted upon the platen axle 2, and held against turning by means of a spring check or dctent 1.1. Upon the line-space wheel is formed an annular projecting flange or rim 12, forming the periphery of a drum; and within this drum is confined a buckling plate 13, dished or bowed, as seen at Figs. 5, (3 and preferably comprising three equidistant arms 14,,"radiating from the platen axle. 2. When relaxed, as at Fig. 5, the,

arms 14; do not bind upon the flange 12;

but they may be pressed against the ,line space wheel 10 andbuclrled or straightened 8 sufliciently to cause them to spread and bite efi'ectually the inner: periphery of said flange 12, whereby the clutch member 13 is locked to the line-space Wheel.

The clutch is connected to turn with the 9 platen axle by means of pins 15, projecting parallel with the axle 2 f 0111 a disk or head 16, having a hub 17 whereby it is fixed upon the platen axle; said headdorming'the closing memberv of the drum .10, 12. T he pins 9 pass through radial slots 18 in the clutch member, and permit free buckling and tin-- buckling movement thereof, while preventing the clutch member from turning relatively to the paten axle. The clutch mom-a her is provided with. a central perforation 19, considerably larger than the platen axle, with which it need never contact. Pressure applied to the middle portion of the clutching plate clamps it against the line-space 1. wheel and causes it to expand in diameter, so that each of the tips of the arms 14 presses radially forcibly against the flange 12.

s a convenient means for operating said clutch, I pivot at upon the hub l7 an 1 washer 23 may elbow-lever comprising a short arm21 and 13 or the washer 23.

-lug 27 thereon having ,undercut portion of a groove 31 (Fig.

A button-or finger piece 24 ismounted upon a stud 25 to slide longitudinally of-the p aten axle, said stud extending from the end of the,axle. Anarm extends from said finger-piece to the long arm 22 of the clutchlng'member, and consists of a rod 26 and a a slot 28 to engage a The lug is provided 30 to fit in at;

formed in the hub 32 of the finger wheel 5.

When the button is pulled out from the position at Fig. 4 to that at Fig. 5, the clutch lever arm 22 is swung to theleft, the arm 21 is lirted, and the dished spring clutch plate 13 is relaxed, thus permitting the head '16,;ax1e 2 and platen -1 to be rotated freely while the line-space .wheel '10 pin 29 on the lever. with a supporting shoulder is held stationary by the check 11. Both hands of the operator are left free for manipulatingthe paper or the platen. Upon pressing the button 24 to the right from the Fig. 5 position to the normal position at Fig. 4, the lug 27 is forced to the right, the long arm 22 1S swung in the same direction, and the arm 21 is swun about the pivot 20 to buckle the plate 13am cause itto bite the flange 12, as already ex lained. At this time the arm 21 is in a dead-center position, where it is held by the reaction orresiliency of said clutch plate 13; so that the platen will remain locked to the line-space wheel without further attention from the o erator. It is obvious that the clutching p ate can be otherwise formed, mounted and operated within the scope of the invention; and por tions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, 1

, claim:

,1. In a typewritin machine, the combination with a platen e ement and a line-space wheel element, of an intervening clutch in. the form of a flexible buckling plate con nected to one of said elements and lxzaring at its edge or border against a flange or rim provided on the otherof said elements, and a finger-piece having d a means to buckle said late to force 1t re 11 a amst' said flan e or rim'to lock the linespace wheel to the platen. 2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a platen axle,

plate, to force itradially tion with a platen element and a line-s ace wheel element, of an interveuin clutc in the form of a dished springy buc ling plate connected to one ofsaid elements, the other bf said elements having a flange or rim, and

a finger piece connected to means to press on the bul e of said plate to flatten it and thereby en arge its diameter, to cause it to bite said flange or rim and thereby lock the line-space wheel to the platen.

3 n a typewriting machine, the combinati n ith a platen and u platenaxle; of a loose line-space wheel, a clutchin the form of a'dishedspringy buckling plate compris-- in" a set of arms radiating from the platen axe and connected thereto, saidline-space wheel having. an annular flange or .rnn

around said plate, and afinger-piece having means to ress on said plate to flatten t.

against said line-space wheel and thereby force the arms to spread outwardly tobite the inner periphery of said flange or rim.

4. In a typewriting maehine,the combinaof a loose line space wheel having a flange or rim, a clutch in the late connected to theplaten axle, and a lbver upon said platen axle to buckle said plate and force it against said flange or rim' to lock the line-space wheel to the platen, said lever provided with a finger-piece.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a platen axle, of a loose line space wheel having a flange or rim, a clutch in the form of a. springy buckling late corinectedto the platen axle, and. a ever upon said platen axleto buckle said plate and force it against said flange or rim to lock-the line-space wheel to the platen,

said lever provided with a finger-piece, and being so mounted and formed that the re actionof the buckling plate thereon holds the lever in. efi'ective position.

6. In atypew riting machine, the combine,

tion with a platen element and a lines {we wheel element. of an intervcningclutc in the form of a flexible buckling plate connected to one of said elements and bearing at its edge or border against a flange orrim provided on the other of said elements, and a finger-piece having means to buckle said against said flange or rim to lock the line-s acewheel to the platen; means being provided to cause said buckling plate to holdsaid lu ckliugmeans in effective position. 7. In a typewritiug machine, the combination with a platen and a platen axle, of a loose line-space wheel having an annular flange or T1111, a clutch in the form of a" dished springy bucklin plate comprising'a set of arms IZldlfltlng. said clutch connected to said axle, a lever pivoted upon said platen axle, and a'fingerpiece connected to said lever to cause it to form of a springy buckling rom'the platen axle,

space wheel to buck v having means to engage saidar ns,

- ceases late against said line e the plate-and force said arms outwardly to engage said; flange and lock-the line-space wheel to said'platen; linger piece mounted to slide on a stud or hearing at the-end of the platen axle and i an arm to operate said lever.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a platen axle, of a cose line space Wheel having an annular flange or rim, a clutch in the form of a dished springy bucklin plate comprising a set of arms radiating tom the platen axle, said clutch connected to said axle, a lever pivoted upon said platen axle, and afingerpiece connected to said lever to cause it to rorce said bucklingkpl'ate' against said lineforce said buckling space wheel .to buc *the plate'and force said arms outwardly to engage said flange and lock the lines ace wheel to said platen; said lever being ormed' so that it reaches a dead center position at the time that said clutch becomes effective and is held in such dead center position by the r'eaction-of said buckling plate.

9. lna

typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a platen axle, of a loose line-space Wheel having an annular flange or r1m,a'clutch in the form of a dished. springy buckling plate comprising a set of arms radiating from the platen axle, 1 a head upon said platen-axle and having a lever pivoted upon said head, and a finger-piece connected plate comprising to said lever to causeit to force said buclrlin' plate a ainst said line space'wheel to buck e the pllite and force said arms out Wardly to engage said flan e and lock the line-space Wheel to said head.

10. In a typewriting machine, the coinbi nation with a platen and a platen axle, of a loose line space Wheel having a flange or of a springv bucconnected to the platen axle, and a lever 11 r on said platen axle to buckle said plate and force it against said flange or rim to'lock the line-space wheel. to the platen, sa d lever provided with a finger-piece; said lever being formed so that it reaches a dead center position at the time that said clutch becomes effective and is held in such deadin p the form I ing holding pins center position by the reaction of said he, kling plate.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a platen axle, of a loose line space wheel having an annular flange or rim, a clutch in the form of a dished springy buckling plate comprising a set of arms radiating from the platen axle, a head upon said platen axle and having! means to engage said arms, a lever pivoted upon said. head, and a finger-piece connected to said lever to cause it to force said buckling plate against said line space wheel to buckle the plate and force said arms outl wardly to engage said flange and lock the line-space Wheel to said head; saidhead in the form of a disk bontined Within said flange and having a hub upon which said lever is pivoted. I

12. In a typcwriting machine, the combination with aaloose line-space Wheel having an annular flange or rim, a clutch in'the form of a dished springy buckling plate comprising a set of arms radiating from the platen axle, a headupon said platen axle and having means to engage said arms, a lever pivoted upon said head, and a linger-piece connected to said lever to cause it to force said buckling plate against said line space Wheel to buckle the plate-and force said arms out wardly to engage said flange and lock the line-space wheel to said head; said head in the form of a disk confined within said flange and having ahub upon which said lever' is pivoted; said lever of elbow form, one arm extending along the platen axle, when in Working position, I

13. ll). 'a typewriting machine,the co1nbination with a platen and a platen axle, of a loose line-space wheel having an annular flange or rim and forming'ia drum, a clutch in the form of a dished springy buckling a set of arms radiating from the platen axle,-a "head to close sai drum, said headhaving ahub and also having holding pins to en age openings in said arms, a lever pivoted washer between said lever and said buckling plate,a finger-piece connected to said lever to cause it to force said buckling plate a ainst said line-space wheel tobuckle the pliite' and force said arms outwardly to engagesaid flange and lock the line-space Wheel to said head.

upon said hub, a

platen and a platen axle, of.

14:. In a typewriting machine, theecombination With 'a platen and a platen axle, of a loose line spaoe Wheel having an annular flange or rim and forming a drum, a clutch of a dished springy buckling plate comprising a from the platen axle, drum, said head a head to close sai having a hub and also havto engage openings in said arms, a lever pivoted upon said hub, a

- washer between said lever and said buckling plate, a finger piece connected to-sald lever to cause it to force said buckling plate against said line-space wheel to buckle the plate and force said arms outwardly to engage said flange and lock the line -.space whcel to said head; said lever being formed so that it reaches a dead center position at the time that said clutch becomes-effective and is held in such dead center position by the reaction of said plate. v

l5. In a typcwriting machine, the combination with a platen and a platen axle, of a loose line-space Wheel having an annular lie set of arms radiatin washer. between said lever and said buckling flan e or rim andforming a drum, a ,clutch in t e formof a'dished springy buckling late comprising a set of arms radiating mm the platen axle, a head to close said drum, said head having a hub and also havingholding pins to en age openin s in said arms, a lever pivote upon sai hub, a

plate, a finger-piece connected to said lever to cause it to force said buckling plate a ainst said line-space wheel tobnckle the p ate and force said arms outwardly to engage said flange and lock the line-space wheel to said head; said lever forked to beagainst said flange or stride said hub and bear against said washer. l

16. In a typewriting machine, theeomhi nation with two primary elements consisting of a platen and a line-space Wheel, of an 'intervenin clutch in the form of a plurality of flexible diverging arms integral with one another, and connected to one of'saidpriinary elements to bear at their ends agalnst a flange or rim provided on the other of said 1 primary elements, to force them radially space wheel to the platen.

' RICHARD \Vitnesses:

JOHN D. SEIFERT, C. RIPLEY.

W. UHLVIG.

rim to lock the line-n 

